Rebuttal on Notebook issues
Okay I totally disagree about the non use of the tablets. I have seen several demonstrations of incredibly creative uses of the tablet technology by faculty at DSU. I also know that our implementation of this technology has been overwhelmingly accepted by the majority of students and faculty at DSU.
Annonymous might also want to check out the cost of tablet requirements at other universities - Winona State University - same notebook $500 per semester
University of Minnesota, Crookston laptop $500 per semester
SD School of Mines and Technology is following DSU's lead but will charge $350 for same notebook.
Remember for the 320 at DSU you also recieve the software, use of a wireless network, security, printing and other benefits. Hmmmmmm wonder how DSU can do it so cheaply!!!!!
posted by DSU President at 9:05 PM
5 Comments:
Maybe it would be worthwhile to think of the tablet as a multimodal platform supporting the interaction of all members of the DSU community and beyond.
I suspect that as web based software improves, we'll see an increase in synchronous communication using the tablets. Then the collaborative potential of these machines will be revealed.
Also, I suspect that the fee for a laptop may in large part replace the fee for books in the future. I already make extensive use of free materials in English courses. Maybe projects like Wikiversity will someday reduce textbook costs for all, making it easier to direct financial resources toward personal educational technology.
7:27 PM
OK, first of all, I'm not saying that the tablet initiative is bad. I do enjoy that fact that everyone has a tablet and it is convenient for communication and classwork. However, my concerns are with the fact that the lease prices are being raised and the tablet prices are decreasing (not caring about how much other universities screw their students over since I don't attend them).
Recently I was looking at the prices of the M280 and the M275. The fact is that the M275 was around $1600 when we signed our lease forms, and for the juniors and seniors of next year, they will only be paying a bit more than that, but for the Freshmen and the Sophomores, whether they have an M275 or an M280, the prices have come down quite a bit. So with the same support and the same security, why are the prices raising so much. The M280 is priced at a bit under 1500, but with the ram upgrade that will probably be needed it will most likely be at 1500, and the students that get them will be paying more?
Also, what is the advantage of staying in the program when there is the chance to opt out. Yeah there is technical support, but many of the students on campus are computer savvy and know how to keep their computers running without many problems. So, what is their incentive to stay in the program when the software is cheap and they are still able to have the security of smart enforcer and wireless capabilities, etc? As for software, most of that is available for the $5-20 from the BIS office, so that isn't a big deal for them.
I don't know, just random thoughts and concerns.
3:49 PM
I asked our CIO at DSU to respond to some of Dominics issues. Here are some additional thoughts about all the funding issues and our tablet initiative - Doug
The participation fee is designed to cover not just the costs of the tablet, but the cost of the overall tablet program. The costs embedded in the tablet program are:
The Tablet PC purchased by the University and assigned to a student.
The basic productivity suite – Office and Frontpage – licensed to the University under the MS Campus Agreement.
Symantec Corporate Edition anti-virus software – licensed to the University under a licensing agreement with the state.
Tablet repair components not covered under warranty
Cisco Clean Access (Perfigo) controlling access to the wireless network.
Wireless network access in classrooms.
At start-up of the tablet program some of these costs were covered by other University funds. While the University will continue to underwrite the costs of the tablet program, the fee increase recently approved by the Regents does reduce the program costs covered by other funds.
While base tablet prices are decreasing the curriculum defining the DSU programs continues to evolve, requiring us to consider an improved model. Options under consideration for next fall’s tablet for incoming freshmen include an optical drive capable of writing to both CDs and DVDs, increased memory to support both the types of applications installed and the operating system.
Software licensing is a key component of the tablet program. It is the license agreement under the MS Campus Agreement that allows the University to offer the productivity suite to students for a nominal fee. Under this agreement the license is extended to student personal machines. Thus the ability for a student to license the productivity suite on a personal desktop is one of the features of the tablet program. From other sources the University also funds participation in the MSDNAA – the Academic Alliance program. This agreement provides software for certain BIS classes. As with the Campus Agreement, this arrangement permits the University to extend licenses of selected applications to students in specific courses. The BIS Office is the point of distribution for media and license keys under both programs.
The opt-out option has been available as the University propagates the tablet program to all undergraduate students. Next fall the opt-out option will be available only to seniors graduating in December and the ability to opt-out will be severely restricted in the future. Since the tablet program provides more than just the tablet, it would not be prudent to permit students to realize the benefits of the overall tablet program without participating in the program.
Expanding on your point that many DSU students are capable of trouble shooting problems with the tablet, the University recognized this point and has invested no additional funds in the development of the Support Desk. Existing resources were reallocated to support this effort.
While the tablet-pc is the most visible component of the tablet program, there are other components and costs to the overall program. Integration of these components with the curriculum of University programs yields an exceptional educational value.
2:03 PM
I am DSU's marketing director. On 4/3 Dr. Knowlton mentioned the DSU 125th anniversary timeline in the library. You are also invited to visit the 125th anniversary forum at www.dsu.edu/125wiki.
In regard to the comments on notebook issues, there are many technology advantages at DSU as outlined on http://www.dsu.edu/techedge.htm.
1:52 PM
DR. KNOWLTON:
APRIL 5TH, YOUR LAST BLOG, WHAT HAPPEN TO STATEMENT YOU STARTED THESE BLOGS TO KEEP THE DSU COMMUNITY INFORMED OF DSU NEWS AND INFORMATION. THERE HAS TO BE NEWS TO SHARE WITH US ALL.WITH THE GRADUATION HAPPENING AND OTHER EVENTS, YOU ARE LEAVING US OUT OF THE LOOP..
8:56 PM
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